Rural Australians for Refugees

MEMBERSHIP: Associate Member

Rural Australians for Refugees Inc. is a grassroots movement for compassionate treatment of Australia’s asylum seekers. The pro-refugee network is a vast mosaic of overlapping networks: lawyers, church people, human-rights advocates, welfare workers, political activists and ordinary people; from highly skilled professionals with specific expertise to the many thousands who have joined a grassroots movement striving to return compassion and humanity to Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers.

One strand in this network is – Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR), an informal network of regional groups supporting and advocating for refugees and people seeking asylum.

The key settlement services covered by Rural Australians for Refugees are assisting asylum seekers and refugees in their communities – with a wide range of volunteer and some grant funded activities. They include: homestay for familiarisation and respite, accommodation and material support, tutoring and coaching, support with integration. Holding events and activities to build awareness of refugee and asylum issues. Advocacy with local MPs and with State and Federal governments and raise money for support services, legal fees, scholarships and general sustenance.